Houston police officer fatally shoots double amputee in wheelchair

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

CBS/AP

(CBS/AP) HOUSTON - A Houston police officer shot and killed a wheelchair-bound double amputee on Saturday after the man allegedly threatened to stab the officer and his partner with what turned out to be a pen.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Matthew Marin shot Brian Claunch, a mentally ill one-armed, one-legged man. Police say Marin and his partner felt threatened by Claunch, who was waving an object that turned out to be a silver pen.

The Chronicle reports that Marin had shot someone else in the line of duty three years ago. Marin will work three days of desk duty.

Arlene Kelly, the co-founder of Civilians Down, a Houston group that monitors police misconduct, questions whether Marin was justified in shooting Claunch, telling the newspaper that she wonders how dangerous a suspect is if he only has one arm and one good leg.

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by easydoesitron September 28, 2012 3:08 AM EDT: Should have shot him in the arm. THE OTHER ARM! Or how about the leg. Oh wait.; Reply to this comment


by Atlanticum September 24, 2012 10:23 PM EDT: No...justification....whatsoever. None.; Reply to this comment


by foo8259 September 24, 2012 10:15 PM EDT: "Police say Marin and his partner felt threatened by Claunch, who was waving an object that turned out to be a silver pen." Yes, but all he probably wanted was an autograph. How about Tase 1st and shoot later?; Reply to this comment


by cbsblogger September 24, 2012 9:54 PM EDT: Cops should not have a license to kill anymore than average citizens. Such a killing should result in a serious objective external investigation. The goal here is to instill restraint among LE rather than a hair trigger.; Reply to this comment

by JohnKanas September 24, 2012 9:45 PM EDT

Mr. Matthew Jacob Marin, next of kin needs to put a bullet in this cops brain, u know what they say what goes around comes around and if this cop thinks' this rule doesn't apply to him he is mistaken and will find out the hard way!

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by Scimajor September 24, 2012 11:06 PM EDT: Yes, that's what we need. Idiots running around killing each other. Great idea. Just make sure all the idiots kill themselves too.

by Scimajor September 24, 2012 8:30 PM EDT

Parents, don't teach your children that the police are the bad guys. Regardless of your opinion on this case, the vast majority of police are there to protect us from the scum of our society. Teaching your children to hate the police just nudges your children ever closer towards being one of the scum that the police are there to protect us from.

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by Twaker September 24, 2012 9:06 PM EDT: Unfortunately It's the police, not parents, that are teaching kids (some kids can read, not all, but some) that police are bad guys.


by Scimajor September 24, 2012 11:04 PM EDT: "asy to say but when children read about stories like this "

Which compared to all the "good stories" is ridiculously rare. Do your job as a parent and explain it to them.


by RandalTheVandal September 25, 2012 4:54 PM EDT: Most cops join specifically so they can push people around, abuse people or kill them and get away with it. that's why they high-five each other after an incident like this.


by omnibus66 September 24, 2012 7:45 PM EDT: Hey, don't be so hard on the cop. In Texas they are allowed two kills a year, and they are allowed to pick and choose whoever they want. It was accepted Texas lawman SOP. You really wouldn't expect him to pick on someone who might actually resist, would you? If he did that, there might be a chance that he might get hurt.; Reply to this comment


by AnthonyQ1965 September 24, 2012 6:24 PM EDT: This "officer" is nothing of the sort. He is just another thug with a gun, badge and the OK to abuse the citizens he is sworn to protect. The fact that the HPD is also defending him only tells me that they are all corrupt. It's really a shame what's going on in America today, with police doing whatever they want and getting away with it. This coward should dig a hole in the dirt and stick his head in it out of shame, but I'm sure the power has gone to his head and he thinks he's better than "us," since it's this "them against us" mentality that creates people like him and the ones that defend him. Really sad.; Reply to this comment